Friday, June 11, 2010

Energy News Digest for June 11, 2010

All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Bonneville Power Administration Trims Wind, Nuclear Output to Help Fish (Reuters)

Nez Perce Say Feds’ Water Priorities Are Skewed (Courthouse News Service)

Mason County Community of Allyn Granted Water Rights (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Massachusetts Study: Wood Power Worse Polluter Than Coal “...Biomass has long been part of the…portfolio of renewable energy sources, along with solar, wind & geothermal energy…” (Associated Press)

Mason County Auditor's Office Holding Primary Election Lot Draw Friday (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Bonneville Power Administration Trims Wind, Nuclear Output to Help Fish
·         Fitch Rates Clark County Public Utility District Bonds ‘A+’; Outlook Stable
·         Grant PUD Firm on Crescent Bar
·         California – Pacific Gas & Electric’s Prop. 16 Lost Big in Its Service Area
·         Polls: Americans Still Worried About Global Warming
·         Will New York Rebel Against Oil & Natural Gas Fracking?
·         Kentucky - Residents Worry about Pollution from Coal Plant
·         Colorado - Black Hills Rate Hike Could Have Been Higher - Than Ten Percent
·         Hawaii Begins Study of Undersea Power Cable Plan
·         British Petroleum - A Branding Nightmare
·         Summer Salmon Season Starts Wednesday on Columbia
·         Nez Perce Say Feds’ Water Priorities Are Skewed
·         Seals’ Whiskers Can Track Fish from Hundreds of Feet Away
·         Scientists to Begin Charting Amazing Coral Colonies in Ocean off Olympic Peninsula
·         Mason County Community of Allyn Granted Water Rights
·         Aberdeen City Council Puts Off Chehalis River Dam Decision
·         Pend Oreille Basin Board Seeks EIS on BPA Plan for Lake’s Water Level
·         Dishwasher Soap Rules Go Statewide
·         Massachusetts Study: Wood Power Worse Polluter Than Coal
·         Wood Burning Power Plants May Hurt Global Warming Fight
·         New York Wood Boiler Dealers Up in Arms
·         Air Emissions Control for the Biomass Industry
·         Oregon Geothermal Plant Project Gets Funding - A $102.2-million loan guarantee
·         BP Oil Spill: Renewable Energy Looking Pretty Good Now
·         Op/Ed – Radar Ridge, et. al.: Earth-Friendliness Wrapped in Red Tape
·         Massachusetts - State Suspends Rule That Utilities Buy Local Green Energy
·         North Carolina House Passes Bill to Boost Renewable Energy
·         NY Solar Bill Would Create 22,000 Jobs, US $20B Industry
·         Why the Wind Market is Hurting – Energy Conservation & Lower Natural Gas Prices
·         Washington Schools Invited to Apply for Energy Grants
·         Obama’s Greenhouse Gas Rules Survive Senate Vote
·         Resolution on Greenhouse Gases Fails, Could Boost Energy Bill
·         Study: Shrinking Glaciers to Spark Asian Food Shortages
·         Calling Mr. Clean - Can Whiter Clouds Reduce Global Warming?
·         FCC, Public Safety Groups at Odds over Control of Nationwide Wireless Network
·         Twitter to Use Own Web Link Shortener
·         Tennessee - Data Center Looking at Lewisburg
·         Google Reverts to Spartan Look After Photos Flop
·         4:30 PM Deadline - Mason County Candidate Filings
·         California’s Move to ‘Top Two’ Primaries: An End to Political Parties?
·         Cell Phone Grace Period Over - It’s now primary offense to drive while talking or texting
·         LaTanya Clemmons Found Guilty of Rendering Criminal Assistance
·         Seattle Man Arrested for Suspicious Mail Sent to US Senator Jim DeMint
·         Man Accused of Threatening US Senator Murray Pleads Guilty
·         Extreme Avalanche Danger in Cascades, Olympics
·         Rupture Caused Washington State Refinery Blast That Killed Seven
·         League of Women Voters to Present Results of Study of Mason County Budget
·         Army: Bodies Misidentified, Misplaced at Arlington

WORD OF THE DAY

Nonplussed • \non-PLUST\ • verb - To cause to be at a loss as to what to say, think, or do

The local candidate felt he was prepared for just about any question regarding the office of dog catcher…that is until a left-field question was lobbed during the intense radio debate left him nonplussed, “if elected, what would you do about the Gulf of Mexico oil spill?”

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Bonneville Power Administration Trims Wind, Nuclear Output to Help Fish (Reuters)

Fitch Rates Clark County Public Utility District Bonds ‘A+’; Outlook Stable (Business Wire)

Grant PUD Firm on Crescent Bar (Wenatchee World, WA)

California – Pacific Gas & Electric’s Prop. 16 Lost Big in Its Service Area (SF Chronicle)

Polls: Americans Still Worried About Global Warming (USA Today)

Will New York Rebel Against Oil & Natural Gas Fracking? (NY Times)

Kentucky - Residents Worry about Pollution from Coal Plant (Richmond Register, KY)

Colorado - Black Hills Rate Hike Could Have Been Higher - Than Ten Percent (Pueblo Chieftain, CO)

Hawaii Begins Study of Undersea Power Cable Plan (Associated Press)

British Petroleum - A Branding Nightmare (EnergyBiz Insider)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Summer Salmon Season Starts Wednesday on Columbia (Longview Daily News, WA)

Nez Perce Say Feds’ Water Priorities Are Skewed (Courthouse News Service)

Seals’ Whiskers Can Track Fish from Hundreds of Feet Away (Christian Science Monitor)

Scientists to Begin Charting Amazing Coral Colonies in Ocean off Olympic Peninsula (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Mason County Community of Allyn Granted Water Rights (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Aberdeen City Council Puts Off Chehalis River Dam Decision (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

Pend Oreille Basin Board Seeks EIS on BPA Plan for Lake’s Water Level (Bonner County Daily Bee, Sandpoint, ID)

Dishwasher Soap Rules Go Statewide (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Massachusetts Study: Wood Power Worse Polluter Than Coal “...Biomass has long been part of the…portfolio of renewable energy sources, along with solar, wind & geothermal energy…” (Associated Press)

Wood Burning Power Plants May Hurt Global Warming Fight (Boston Globe, MA)

New York Wood Boiler Dealers Up in Arms - Just the talk about regulations has hurt business already; some say (The Daily Mail, Catskill, NY)

Air Emissions Control for the Biomass Industry (Biomass Magazine)

Oregon Geothermal Plant Project Gets Funding - A $102.2-million loan guarantee (Daily Journal of Commerce, OR)

BP Oil Spill: Renewable Energy Looking Pretty Good Now - A new Stanford University poll out of found that most Americans percent favor breaks for wind, solar, & water power (Christian Science Monitor)

Op/Ed – Radar Ridge, et. al.: Earth-Friendliness Wrapped in Red Tape (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Massachusetts - State Suspends Rule That Utilities Buy Local Green Energy (Boston Globe, MA)

North Carolina House Passes Bill to Boost Renewable Energy - including biomass, hydro-generation, solar, wind & geothermal heat pumps (Triangle Business Journal)

NY Solar Bill Would Create 22,000 Jobs, US $20B Industry (Renewable Energy World)

Why the Wind Market is Hurting – Energy Conservation & Lower Natural Gas Prices (Renewable Energy World – So, the bane of renewable energy is…CONSERVATION?)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Washington Schools Invited to Apply for Energy Grants (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Obama’s Greenhouse Gas Rules Survive Senate Vote (Associated Press)

Resolution on Greenhouse Gases Fails, Could Boost Energy Bill (Christian Science Monitor)

Study: Shrinking Glaciers to Spark Asian Food Shortages (Associated Press)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Calling Mr. Clean - Can Whiter Clouds Reduce Global Warming? (USA Today)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

FCC, Public Safety Groups at Odds over Control of Nationwide Wireless Network (Washington Post)

Twitter to Use Own Web Link Shortener (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

Tennessee - Data Center Looking at Lewisburg (Marshall County Tribune, Lewisburg, TN)

Google Reverts to Spartan Look After Photos Flop (Associated Press)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Mason County Auditor's Office Holding Primary Election Lot Draw Friday (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

4:30 PM Deadline - Mason County Candidate Filings (Mason County Auditor)

California’s Move to ‘Top Two’ Primaries: An End to Political Parties? Modeled after a similar one in Washington State passed in 2004 (Christian Science Monitor)

GENERAL NEWS

Cell Phone Grace Period Over - It’s now primary offense to drive while talking or texting (Olympian, WA)

LaTanya Clemmons Found Guilty of Rendering Criminal Assistance (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

Seattle Man Arrested for Suspicious Mail Sent to US Senator Jim DeMint (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

Man Accused of Threatening US Senator Murray Pleads Guilty (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

Extreme Avalanche Danger in Cascades, Olympics (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

Rupture Caused Washington State Refinery Blast That Killed Seven (Associated Press)

League of Women Voters to Present Results of Study of Mason County Budget (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

Army: Bodies Misidentified, Misplaced at Arlington (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

DIVERSIONS

Eastern Washington University Sees Red on Football Field

NY Lawmaker Got His Goat, & Horn in the Hand

Mr. Potato Head -- The Elvis Version?

Colonial Document Turns Up in Classroom

SONG OF THE DAY

Neil Young - Old Man

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Energy News Digest for June 10, 2010

All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Washington State’s New Cell Phone Law Takes Effect Today (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

Mason County - Day Three of Candidate Filing Nets a Fourth for PUD 3 (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

A Call to Triple US Spending on Energy Research (NY Times)

Federal Study Shows Major Decline of Northwest Water Supplies (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Moses Lake Students Race for Solar Power - School District partnered with the Grant County Public Utility District & REC Silicon (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         A Call to Triple US Spending on Energy Research
·         DNR Steps into Okanogan PUD Transmission Line Tangle
·         California - Public Anger at Pacific Gas & Electric Helped Sink Prop 16
·         Summit Park Ballfields & BPA Power Lines Spark Maple Valley City Council Discussion
·         Coming to Earth Soon: Nasty Solar Storms
·         Canadian Commission into Sockeye Salmon Stocks Releases Areas of Inquiry
·         Canada – Captain Kirk Fights off Alien Salmon
·         Salmon Get Bar Codes
·         Biotoxin Closes All of Whatcom County to Recreational Shellfish Harvest
·         Editorial – Shellfish Industry: An Ill Wind Blows in Our Region’s Favor
·         Going to War against Grasshoppers
·         Federal Study Shows Major Decline of Northwest Water Supplies
·         AP Impact: BP Gulf Spill Response Plans Severely Flawed – Included seals & walruses as species at risk
·         Washington, Oregon Dishwashers to Go on Low-Phosphate Diets
·         Construction Begins on East Idaho Wind Project
·         Canada – Wind Farm Turbines Deadly for Birds, Bats
·         Idaho Geothermal Company Closer to $102 Million Loan
·         Texas - Mesquite Wood Fired Power Plant Moves Forward
·         Public Service of New Hampshire Reaches Power Purchase Agreement for Biomass Energy
·         Canada - New Brunswick Biomass Allocation Upsets Ecology Groups
·         United Kingdom Will Fail Climate Change Target to Generate More Electricity from Wind
·         Energy Savings on the Cheap - Hanging Laundry on Clotheslines Saves Money
·         Senator Graham Backs US Energy Bill without Carbon Cap He Once Sought
·         Energy, Climate Change, but No Cap & Trade
·         Once More, With Less Feeling - Climate-Change Negotiations Settle in for the Long Haul
·         Report: Potential of “Clean Coal” to Reduce Emissions is Overstated
·         Moses Lake Students Race for Solar Power
·         Solar Cells: Coming to a Window Near You?
·         Airplane Contrails Contribute to Global Warming
·         Lafayette Utility Service Files Complaint with FCC over Cox Blackballing
·         Verizon, Time Warner Cable Fight over the Definition of Fiber
·         Rural Wireless Carriers Ready for a Fight
·         FCC Looks for Silicon Valley Support of Broadband Plan
·         FCC Has 20,000 Speedtest Volunteers - But they’re looking for more...
·         Some ISPs Still Struggling With Definition of ‘Unlimited’
·         APOGEE Interactive Websites Take Top Honors
·         Mason County - Day Three of Candidate Filing Nets a Fourth for PUD 3
·         Mason County Candidate Filings
·         California Voters Overhaul Primary Election System – Go to “Top Two” System
·         Washington State’s New Cell Phone Law Takes Effect Today
·         Washington State & Three Others Begging Congress for $24B Medicaid Bailout
·         Mount Rainier Shaking With Tiny Ice Quakes
·         Cowlitz County: We’re Open for Business

WORD OF THE DAY

Ambuscade • \AM-buss-kade\ • noun - A trap in which concealed persons lie in wait to attack by surprise; also: the persons so concealed or their position

The intricate maze built of copy-paper boxes by the utility’s information services staff had a dual purpose: funnel abusers of the print-limit policy into a single line; and make escape past the carefully organized ambuscade of printer police virtually impossible. The camouflage of those lying in wait was impressive…at first glance; they appeared as innocent boxes of copy paper. However, tear-away panels stood ready to release an onslaught of hidden IS workers at the ambush point.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

A Call to Triple US Spending on Energy Research (NY Times)

DNR Steps into Okanogan PUD Transmission Line Tangle (Wenatchee World, WA)

California - Public Anger at Pacific Gas & Electric Helped Sink Prop 16 (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

Summit Park Ballfields & BPA Power Lines Spark Maple Valley City Council Discussion (Covington Reporter, WA)

Coming to Earth Soon: Nasty Solar Storms - The sun is about to get a lot more active, which spells bad news for Earth’s satellites, power grids, & other trappings of modern living (Christian Science Monitor)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Canadian Commission into Sockeye Salmon Stocks Releases Areas of Inquiry “…water pollution, salmon farms, logging, diseases & parasites, predators, non-retention fisheries, climate change, urbanization & agricultural activities & hydro…” (Globe & Mail, Canada)

Canada – Captain Kirk Fights off Alien Salmon (Edmonton Journal, Alberta)

Salmon Get Bar Codes (Corvallis Gazette-Times, OR)

Biotoxin Closes All of Whatcom County to Recreational Shellfish Harvest (KING-TV, Seattle)

Editorial – Shellfish Industry: An Ill Wind Blows in Our Region’s Favor (Daily Astorian, OR)

Going to War against Grasshoppers (NY Times)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Federal Study Shows Major Decline of Northwest Water Supplies (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

AP Impact: BP Spill Response Plans Severely Flawed “…The plan lists cold-water marine mammals including walruses, sea otters, sea lions & seals as sensitive biological resources…none of those animals live anywhere near the Gulf…” (Associated Press)

Washington, Oregon Dishwashers to Go on Low-Phosphate Diets (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Construction Begins on East Idaho Wind Project (KMVT-TV, Boise, ID)

Canada – Wind Farm Turbines Deadly for Birds, Bats (Globe & Mail)

Idaho Geothermal Company Closer to $102 Million Loan (Associated Press)

Texas - Mesquite Wood Fired Power Plant Moves Forward (Abilene Reporter News, TX)

Public Service of New Hampshire Reaches Power Purchase Agreement for Biomass Energy “…will move New Hampshire closer to its goal of 25 percent renewable energy…” (Market Watch)

Canada - New Brunswick Biomass Allocation Upsets Ecology Groups (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

United Kingdom Will Fail Climate Change Target to Generate More Electricity from Wind Farms (The Guardian, UK)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/7813742/UK-will-fail-climate-change-target.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Energy Savings on the Cheap - Hanging Laundry on Clotheslines Saves Money, Cuts Carbon (Portland Tribune, OR)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Senator Graham Backs US Energy Bill without Carbon Cap He Once Sought (Bloomberg Business News)

Energy, Climate Change, but No Cap & Trade (NY Times)

Once More, With Less Feeling - Climate-Change Negotiations Settle in for the Long Haul (The Economist Magazine)

Report: Potential of “Clean Coal” to Reduce Emissions is Overstated (Solve Climate)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Moses Lake Students Race for Solar Power - School District partnered with the Grant County Public Utility District & REC Silicon (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

Solar Cells: Coming to a Window Near You? (CNN)

Airplane Contrails Contribute to Global Warming (Natural News)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Lafayette Utility Service Files Complaint with FCC over Cox Blackballing - Insists they’re being kept out of National Cable Television Cooperative (Broadband Reports)

Verizon, Time Warner Cable Fight over the Definition of Fiber (Broadband Reports)

Rural Wireless Carriers Ready for a Fight (Light Reading)

FCC Looks for Silicon Valley Support of Broadband Plan (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

FCC Has 20,000 Speedtest Volunteers - But they’re looking for more... (Broadband Reports)

Some ISPs Still Struggling With Definition of ‘Unlimited’ (Broadband Reports)

APOGEE Interactive Websites Take Top Honors - National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Annual Competition (PR Newswire)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Mason County - Day Three of Candidate Filing Nets a Fourth for PUD 3 (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Mason County Candidate Filings (Mason County Auditor)

California Voters Overhaul Primary Election System – Go to “Top Two” System (Associated Press)

GENERAL NEWS

Washington State’s New Cell Phone Law Takes Effect Today (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

Washington State & Three Others Begging Congress for $24B Medicaid Bailout (Associated Press)

Mount Rainier Shaking With Tiny Ice Quakes (Associated Press)

We’re Open for Business “…Cowlitz PUD & the state were able to offer the family a $2.2 million package of grants & low-interest loans to pay power costs for the new plant…” (Longview Daily News, WA)

DIVERSIONS

Stowaway Survives Flight Next to Jet Landing Gear

NY’s Empire State Bldg Says ‘No’ to Mother Teresa

Yuck!!! Galileo’s Fingers Go on Display in Florence Museum

Elementary School Counselor Kisses a Pig to Reward Her Students

SONG OF THE DAY

Indigo Girls - Galileo